Napier defends record on student access

* Napier University invoked its strong record on widening access after being featured in the Scottish Parliament as having the highest non-completion rates in Scotland.

Enterprise and lifelong learning minister Henry McLeish, responding to a parliamentary question on institutional drop-out rates, produced figures on non-completion rates from the Higher Education Funding Council's performance indicators report covering 1996-97.

A Napier spokeswoman said: "We believe we are providing a very flexible education with innovative access schemes for those groups who have been excluded for so long. It is well documented that at least initially there can be some increase in non-completion rates, but not all non-progression equals wastage."